Winterfest 2025
Jesus is…..
Jesus is. How do you evaluate those two words? Are they a question, wondering what an itinerant Nazarene teacher could possibly be to have relevance 2000 years later? Are they a statement, showing an unqualified trust in the existence and value of this person named Jesus? Are they incomplete, leaving listeners waiting to decide? At the core of Christianity lie these two words, and at the risk of over-generalizing the above questions describe the main responses to our faith. That is why Winterfest this year is focusing on the theme of “Jesus is.” Our speakers will explore four scripturally rooted statements about Jesus:
§ Jesus is my Guide
§ Jesus is my Everything
§ Jesus is the Word
§ Jesus is Alive
Each of these statements leads to a truth about the son of God which we pray will lead us and students to a greater understanding of who Jesus is, and what his identity means for us today.
1. Have students write down a description of each of the four words above.
2. Discuss how these four words are meaningful in each of their lives as a follower.
3. Discuss how they can use these attributes of Jesus to tell their friends the Good News.
Pray with students that everyone will be open to the Holy Spirit leading them during the Winterfest weekend. Let students pray for what they would like to see happen within their own youth group.
Safe Travels
The Winterfest Folks
Friday Devo Click here to download
Jesus is……..our Guide
Think about roaring down a class five river with rapids over your head. Scary. But not really because you are in a Noah’s Ark raft with an expert guide directing the raft. The guide knows the equipment. The guide knows safety. The guide knows the river—every turn, every rock formation.
While serious injuries are exceedingly rare, it's not uncommon for people to fall out of the raft or for it to flip over if you hit a wave at the wrong angle. When this happens, nine times out of ten they pop up right next to the raft and we pull them in right away. Sometimes, they end up swimming through the rapid which can be rough if you swallow a lot of water. Although everyone always wears a lifejacket and they are buoyant enough to keep you afloat, you can still have a bad time with a harsh swim.
So, what does it take to be a guide? Check out the qualifications below:
To be an outdoor rafting guide, you typically need to have a First Aid and CPR certification, complete a certified training course with a commercial outfitter, demonstrate proficiency in swift water rescue techniques, have extensive on-river training hours, and be able to read and navigate the specific river section you will be guiding on, including knowledge of river hazards and emergency procedures.
Key qualifications include:
Certifications:
First Aid and CPR certification
Swiftwater Rescue training
Training:
Completion of a guide school or training course with a qualified outfitter
Extensive on-river training hours
Practice runs on the specific river section you will be guiding
Knowledge and Skills:
River reading and hazard identification
Raft maneuvering techniques
Emergency procedures
Guest management and communication
Environmental awareness and Leave No Trace principles
Who knew there was white water rafting in the state of Maine? Maine has one of the most stringent licensing guidelines in the USA to become a guide. The following requirements are for a Level 1 license:
§ Obtain a First Aid/CPR certification.
§ Complete a training course with a qualified commercial outfitter of at least 7 days in length.
§ Conduct at least twenty training runs on the rivers identified as ''rapidly flowing'', which for our group meant the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers.
§ Complete a minimum of five guided runs on the Kennebec River.
§ Pass a written examination given by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on topics of whitewater law, ethics, rules, hydrology, geography, river safety, and more.
To achieve a Level II license (necessary to guide on Class V rapids such as those on the Penobscot River), one must possess a Class I license and make ten training runs on the Penobscot River with an additional five guided runs on the Class V section as well as no fewer than six commercial trips with a Class I license.
A typical day of training looks like this:
§ 4:30am: Wake up, get dressed - e.g. put on your cold and still-wet-from-yesterday wetsuit
§ 5:00am: Meet with training group to arrange boats on the trailer in preparation for the day's river runs. We all camped at base for training, so the commute was short.
§ 6:00am: Drive to river.
§ 7:00am - 4pm: River runs, up to 4 per day. Practicing guide strokes, safety procedures, river geography. Eat lunch on drive between runs.
§ 4pm - 7pm: Deflate boats, load onto trailer, drive back to base, unload boats, perform maintenance and put away gear.
§ 7pm-7:30pm: Dinner break.
§ 7:30pm - 10:30pm: Classroom work to review regulations, hydrology, rules, ethics, and geography and practice skills.
§ 10:30pm-11pm: Bed.
As you can see here. The guide training is intense.
So How Can Jesus Be Our Guide?
Jesus can be our guide by providing us with his teachings and example through the Bible, which acts as a roadmap for living a righteous life, allowing us to seek his wisdom and guidance in navigating life's decisions and challenges through prayer and reflection on his words and actions; essentially, by following his teachings, we can live a life aligned with his values and purpose.
Key points about Jesus as a guide:
The Bible as his instruction manual (the guidebook):
The Bible contains Jesus' teachings, parables, and actions which provide practical guidance on how to live ethically and morally.
The Holy Spirit as a personal guide (he is always with us):
Christians believe the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised to send, can help us understand and apply Jesus' teachings in our lives.
Following Jesus' example:
By studying Jesus' life, we can learn how to respond to challenges, love others, and prioritize spiritual growth.
Prayer and reflection:
Through prayer, we can seek direct guidance from Jesus, asking for clarity and wisdom in specific situations.
Psalm 73:24 says, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”
Discussion
1. Tell about a time in your life where listening to God’s guidance has made a difference in your life?
2. What is your favorite Bible scripture that gives you guidance?
3. How does prayer help to lead and guide you in your daily life?
4. Can you name a person/friend that you know that seems “lost” and could use a guide? How would you go about telling them that Jesus is your guide, and your life is better because he leads you?
5. As you prepare to come to Winterfest be open to learning more about how Jesus can lead and guide you in your daily life. Be prepared to bring home at least one good point from the lesson to make you a better follower of Jesus.
Remember, Jesus said several times in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John “Follow Me.” He is saying the same 2000 years later to you and me. Jesus is our guide.
Winterfest 2025 Click here to download
Saturday
Jesus is…..
The sessions today were about Jesus is my Everything and Jesus is the Word.
Everything
An old song goes….
He is my Everything
He is my ALL
He is my Everything
Both great and small
He gave his life for me
Made everything new
He is my everything
Now how about you.
When a person sings this song, they are basically saying (singing) the Jesus is the main focus in every part of their lives. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of everything that is important in our lives. He gives us hope, love, guidance, strength, and a purpose for living. He does through The Word, his teachings, and the way that we see him live his earthly life.
Key aspects of how Jesus can be considered "everything":
Salvation and forgiveness:
Jesus is the redeemer who offers forgiveness for sins, providing a path to eternal life.
Love and compassion:
Jesus embodies unconditional love and compassion, offering comfort and support in times of need.
Guidance and wisdom:
The teachings of Jesus are our source of wisdom and direction for living a meaningful life.
Strength and hope:
Even in difficult situations, Jesus is a source of strength and hope to overcome challenges.
Peace and joy:
Through faith in Jesus, Christians find inner peace and joy that transcends worldly circumstances.
Discuss:
1. Describe who Jesus is to you.
2. What keeps Jesus from being your everything, your all?
3. How do we tell our friends how Jesus can and has met all of our needs?
He is the creator of all things, the Alpha and the Omega.
He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and infinite.
He is holy, just, sovereign, and righteous.
He is truth and He is love.
He is my savior and He is my redeemer.
He is my healer.
He is my provider.
He is my protector.
He is my wise counselor.
He is my strength in every weakness.
He is merciful to me, faithful, patient, compassionate, and gracious.
He is my hope, my peace, and my joy.
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The Word
I love the Gospel of John. He was one of the three closer disciples of Jesus. He gave us so many pictures of Jesus through his WORDS. The book of John opens with this:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
John writes these things to show that us that “these words have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
John uses the “word” (logos) for his Jewish readers, by introducing Jesus as the “Word.” John is in a sense pointing them back to the Old Testament where the Logos or “Word” of God is associated with the personification of God’s revelation. And in Greek philosophy, the term Logos was used to describe the intermediate agency by which God created material things and communicated with them. In the Greek worldview, the Logos was thought of as a bridge between the transcendent God and the material universe. Therefore, for his Greek readers the use of the term Logos would have likely brought forth the idea of a mediating principle between God and the world.
In Christianity, Jesus being referred to as "The Word" is significant because it signifies that he is the ultimate expression of God, the physical manifestation of God's will and character, and the means through which creation came to be; essentially, Jesus is not just a messenger, but the very voice and power of God himself, as stated in the Gospel of John where this phrase is introduced: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.".
Key points about Jesus as "The Word":
Divine Nature:
By calling Jesus "The Word," the Bible emphasizes his divine nature, indicating that he is not just a prophet but an integral part of the Godhead.
Creation:
In the Greek philosophical context, "Logos" (the word "Word" in Greek) was often understood as the principle through which God created the universe, so this title connects Jesus directly to the act of creation.
Revelation of God:
Jesus is seen as the perfect representation of God's character and will, allowing humans to understand God through his actions and teachings.
Communication with Humanity:
"The Word" signifies that Jesus is the bridge between God and humanity, making God's message accessible to people.
Discuss:
1. We speak a lot about “the Word of God” usually in reference to the Bible. When you think about Jesus being The Word, what do you think is most important?
2. What are some times when Jesus spoke words of healing?
3. Name some times when Jesus spoke words of hope?
4. Can you name some times when Jesus spoke words of correction?
5. Some of Jesus’ most quoted words was from the cross. Talk about the significance of the following:
- · "It is finished": Jesus said this to mark the end of his suffering, the completion of his atonement, and the conclusion of his obedience.
- · "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?": Jesus said this when he was all alone.
- · "I thirst": Jesus said this to express his physical suffering and to identify with the suffering of humanity.
- · "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do": Jesus said this as a prayer.
- · "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit": Jesus said this as a prayer.
- · "You will be with Me in Paradise": Jesus said this.
- · "Woman, behold your son!": Jesus said this.
Winterfest 2025
Post Devo Thoughts Click here to download
Jesus is…..Alive
Another Winterfest in the books. We go home encouraged, hopeful, questioning, changed. Trips like this do different things to different people.
Our prayers as you think about the Sunday session with Phil is that we all come alive and live out the words of Jesus as he guides us into know that he truly is our everything, our all. The following thoughts are from Sean Lucas:
First Corinthians 15:22 tells us: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” What does it mean, “In Adam all die”? The two words in Adam take us back to the garden of Eden; Adam’s disobedience was not for himself only, but for all his posterity after him.
The result is that “in Adam, all die.” Genesis 5 reports with the drumbeat refrain, “So and so lived for so long, and then he died.” No one escapes death because no one escapes sin: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Death is only natural in that it is the natural result of being born in Adam; it is the continued sting of sin and continued threat against human life.
But the good news of that verse is that there is a comma, not a period. “As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” In Christ, there is life. How does someone come to be in Christ? We believe in Him, trust Him, belong to Him (1 Cor 15:23). As we receive Jesus and rest in Him alone for our salvation, we are united to Him in such a way that God sees us in Him.
What is the result? We shall be made alive. Not just the spiritual part of us—our immaterial parts that we often call our “souls”—but our bodies—our physical parts—shall be as well. All those who are “in Christ” will be raised from the dead, physically, literally, at the last day.
That gives us cause to shout and sing, to rail at death itself: “Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:54–55). Though death may leer at us, we can mock him—because God has given us and will give victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.
Being "alive in Christ" means being united with Jesus Christ through faith and trust, and is a transformation that involves surrendering to God's control. Some ways to live "alive in Christ" include:
- Trusting in God: Believing in God's mercies, and resting in Him for salvation
- Imitating Christ: Surrendering your thoughts, actions, words, and opinions to Christ
- Serving God: Seeking God, loving God, and obeying God
- Being in community: Being part of a community of believers
- Reading the Bible: Reading God's word
- Worshiping God: Worshiping God through music
- Being creative: Exploring God's creation and doing things that bring you joy
Some say that being "alive in Christ" means that even when storms come, you can live through them because your foundation is strong. It doesn't mean that you'll be happy all the time, or that your life will be perfect.
Discuss:
1. Is Jesus “alive” for you? How can you tell?
2. Discuss some ways the world is better because “Jesus is……Alive.”
3. Can you tell that Jesus is…..Alive in your church? How?
4. How can you begin to tell your friends about this Jesus that was dead by is now alive?